Main Article

As the country celebrated its independence on the Fourth of July, XXLMag.com took a moment to recognize the very best that the independent game has to offer.

From the likes of E-40, Murs, and Raekwon, the list compiled some of the hardest working artists on the indie scene and as many may have expected, Tech N9ne ranked high on the countdown coming in at #2. Recognizing Tech N9ne’s decade-plus rise with Strange Music, XXL wrote:

“The Strange Music general’s No Days Off motto is still intact. Riding the momentum of his successful All 6’s and 7’s, Tech dropped, Welcome to Strangeland, a compilation of collaborations primarily showcasing his camp. Tech continued to raise the bar with his live show. He closed 2011 by performing for the U.S. Troops as part of the USO tour and set a record for his Hostile Takeover trek—a run that had Tech and Machine Gun Kelly perform 90 shows in 99 days. Tech also continued to strengthen his Strange Music brand with successful releases from ¡MAYDAY! Krizz Kaliko and Stevie Stone.”

XXLMag.com has also given fans a voice as they are asking readers to vote on the top independent artist in the game with a poll that includes every entry on the list. While Tech may have ranked second on the list, the Kansas City King currently leads the way on the poll.

With a record-breaking tour and a following that is often dubbed “die-hard”, it’s hard to argue that Tech N9ne hasn’t earned his rightful place among the very best artists armed with an independent blueprint.